Marquez breaks leg in training accident

Patrick Appleton20 Feb 2014 15:13

MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez has broken his right leg during a dirt-track training session.

The 21-year-old is expected to be fit for the first race in Qatar on March 23 but he will miss the testing at Sepang at the end of February.

Marquez suffered a fracture of his right fibula during a dirt-track training session in the Spanish town of Lleida on Wednesday.

A statement from his Honda team said Marquez sustained a "spiral fracture of the distal third of his right fibula".

Marquez was treated by MotoGP surgeon Dr Xavier Mir at Barcelona's Universitario Quiron Dexeus hospital and has already begun his rehabilitation, with the doctor expecting him to return in “three to four weeks”.

The Repsol Honda rider is not blaming anyone or anything for the injury, instead putting it down to bad luck.

"It was a really unfortunate accident that could happen to anyone at any time," said Marquez.

"I was rushed to hospital and Dr. Mir treated me, thankfully there was no ligament damage and it seems like a clean break."

Having already begun the road to recovery with magnetic therapy, the world champion will be hoping to return quickly to begin the defence of his crown.